Fresh uproar over coalgate; Rajya Sabha adjourned

Proceedings were washed out for the third consecutive day in Rajya Sabha as BJP created uproar on the coalgate issue demanding resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and dismissal of law minister Ashwani Kumar.

Lok Sabha, which did not transact any business during the last two working days (Monday and Tuesday) on the coal block allocation and 2G spectrum issues, was adjourned for the day Thursday as a mark of respect to sitting Trinamool Congress member Ambica Banerjee who died this morning.

The Upper House was adjourned thrice over the issue of coal block allocation as members from BJP repeatedly trooped into the Well and shouted slogans against the government.

BJP members shouted slogans demanding resignation of the Prime Minister.

Due to the adjournments, a short notice discussion on atrocities on women and girl child in the country could not take place.

Members from Left, SP and AGP also protested on different issues.

Left members held banners on the multi-crore chit fund fraud in West Bengal displaying posters that read "protect interest of subscribers and agents of Saradha Chit Fund scam," while AGP members protested the proposed transfer of land to Bangladesh.

SP members trooped into the Well raising the issue of Chinese incursion soon after the House met for the day.

Hardly had Chairman Hamid Ansari called the House to order, BJP, SP and Left members were on their feet.

As Ansari took up the first listed question, BJP and SP members trooped into the Well. "Sharam karo, sharam karo, Pradhan Mantri sharam karo (shame, shame, prime minister)," the BJP members shouted.

He asked members to go back to their places saying it was Question Hour. As his pleas went unheeded, Ansari adjourned the House till noon.

Similar scenes were repeated when the House re-assembled with BJP members trooping into the Well shouting slogans "PM resign", "Dismiss law minister" and "government of corrupts will not be allowed to remain".

AGP members Birendra Prasad Baishya and Kumar Dipak Das also came into the Well waving posters that opposed transferof Indian land to Bangladesh.

Minister for external affairs Salman Khurshid, who was to introduce a Constitutional amendment bill in this regard, briefly talked to Baishya.